Apparatus for handling a contact screen in a photomechanical camera



0d- 6, 1 64 N. c. SCHUTT ETAL APPARATUS FOR HANDLING A CONTACT SCREEN INA PHOTOMECHANICAL CAMERA 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 18, 1961 a w mw m mhne mam Mm m umflm N w ,1

2 L M. 7 m W.fl mm Iv NFJ ,M M M a m .m F

Oct. 6, 1964 N. c. SCHUTT ETAL APPARATUS FOR HANDLING A coN'rAcT SCREENIN A PHOTOMECHANICAL CAMERA 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 18, 1961INVENTORS Norman 0. Schufl Floyd W. Flynn John Louis Biollund flk/w M yl JTTORNEYS 6, 1964 N. c. SCHUTT ETAL 3,151,522

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING A CONTACT SCREEN IN A PHOTOMECHANICAL CAMERAFiled Dec. 18, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS NORMAN c. SCHUTT FLOYD wFLYNN BY JOHN LOUIS BJELLAND ATTQR N EYS United States Patent YorlrFiled Dec. 18, 1961, Ser. No. 159,999 7 tClaims. (Cl. 33-24) Thisinvention relates generally to photomechanical camera apparatus and hasspecific relation to mechanism for handling a contact half-tone screenin a photomechauical camera and applying the screen to a film sheet onthe face of a vacuum film support.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious herefrom, or maybe learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized andattained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed outin the appended claims.

This application is a continuation-impart of our previously filedapplication Serial No. 727,897, filed April 11, 1958, now US. Patent No.3,068,748, issued December 18, 1962, in the names of Norman C. Schutt,Floyd W. Flynn and John Louis Bjelland, for Apparatus for Handling aContact Screen in a Photomechanical Camera.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus forhandling and manipulating a flexible contact type half-tone screen in aphotomechanical camera in order to smoothly apply the screen over a filmsheet on the face of a vacuum film support. Another object is to providesuch a screen handling apparatus which is effective to smoothly applythe flexible contact type half-tone screen to the film sheet and theface of the vacuum film support from the upper region of the screendownwardly in a manner that assures that the screen is wrinkle free andthat there are no air pockets between the screen and the film sheet onthe face of the film support. Still another object is to provide such ascreen handling apparatus wherein the flexible contact type halftonescreen is supported in a suitable frame with mechanical means beingcarried by the frame for smoothing the screen onto the film sheet fromthe upper region of the screen downwardly. A still further object is toprovide such a screen handling apparatus wherein the portion of thescreen immediately below that being applied to the film sheet and theface of the film support is maintained in spaced relation with the filmand support during the smoothing operation assuring a smooth overlay ofthe screen on the film sheet. Another object is to provide such a screenhandling apparatus wherein the vacuum film support and the screen arerelatively movable and wherein the mechanical mechanism for applying thescreen to the film sheet on the face of the film support isautomatically moved from its upper to its lowermost position upon movingthe film support and screen from a position where they are spaced fromeach other to a position where they are adjacent each other and toautomatically move this mechanism from its lower to its upper positionwhen the film support and screen are moved from adjacent relation intospaced relation. Still another object is to provide such an apparatusfor smoothly and automatically applying the flexible, contact typehalf-tone screen to the film on the face of a vacuum film support whichapparatus is extremely simple in construction and yet reliable in itsoperation of providing a smooth wrinkle free, overlay of the screen onthe film sheet.

Another object of the invention is to provide means in association withthe half-tone screen applying apparatus 3,151,522 Patented Oct. 6, 1964for urging the film against the film support in advance of the half-tonescreen applying apparatus.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided in aphotomechanical camera a support frame for a flexible contact typehalf-tone screen with the frame being placed in front of a vacuum typefilm support or backing member and with the frame and film support beingrelatively movable to and from a position where they are in spacedrelation and a position where they are adjacent to each other. Looselyhung in the frame is a flexible, contact type half-tone screen that isto be applied over a film sheet on the face of the film support when thescreen support frame and the film support are moved from their spacedrelation into adjacent relation. The film sheet and holf-tone screen areheld in place on the face of the film support by suction that is appliedthrough openings distributed over the face of the film support. Thehalf-tone screen is wider than the film sheet and suction is applied tothe screen through the openings distributed about and outwardly of thefilm sheet and which the screen overlays with this suction drawing thescreen against the film sheet and the face of the film support. Thescreen is smoothed on or applied to the film sheet and the face of thefilm support by special apparatus that is carried by the screen supportframe and that is effective to assure a smooth overlay of the screen onthe film sheet. This special mechanism includes a pair of verticallyspaced rollers that extend transversely of the screen and that aresimultaneously movable in the support frame in a vertical direction. Theupper roller is effective to urge the screen into engagement with thefilm sheet and the face of the film support while the lower roller iseffective to maintain the portion of the screen immediately below thatbeing applied to the film sheet in spaced relation with the film sheetand support face assuring a smooth application of the screen to the filmand assuring against there being entrapped air pockets. The rollers arevertically moved through a suitable drive mechanism which includes apair of chains at each side of the screen support frame trained overgears at opposite ends of the support frame with these chains beingoperated or driven by a suitable power source, as for example, anelectrical motor. The drive mechanism for the vertically movable rollersis automatically operated with their being mechanism to control thisdrive so that upon moving the screen support frame and the film supportinto juxtaposition the rollers are moved from their upper to theirlowermost position within the support frame while when the support frameand film support are moved out of adjacent rela tion into spacedrelation the rollers are automatically returned from their lowermost totheir uppermost position.

Means is provided for urging the film against the vacuum film support inadvance of the application of the flexible half-tone screen. This meansincludes a plow element iaffixed to the roller supports and movabletherewith. As the rollers move vertically to apply the halftone screen,the plow element is adapted to first contact the film urging it againstthe vacuum board. Thus, the film is brought into over-all contact withthe vacuum film support prior to the application of the half-tone screenthereto.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention and together with thedescription, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

In the drawings:

areas-a.

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view, partially fragmentary, of acontact type half-tone screen support assem bly constructed inaccordance with the present invention and mounted in a photomechanicalcamera in adjacent relation to and immediately in front of a vacuum filmsupport that forms part of the camera;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the contact type screen assembly, perse, and this illustration is taken looking from the direction of thefilm support;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view of the upper end of the screen andsupport showing the way the screen is connected to or hung from thesupport;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational side view of the support arm and a portion ofthe support bracket for the roller mechanism and shows the support armengaged with the pin extending from the carrier link of one of the drivechains and shows the adjustable microswitch actuator that is carried bythe support bracket;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of one of the carrier links that formspart of each of the drive chains;

FIGURE 6 is a schematic representation showing the wiring diagram forthe motor control and showing how the movement of the film supportefiects the operation of the motor;

FlGURE 7 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 2 illustrating the filmapplying element;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3, FIG. 7;

FIGURES 9 and 10 show modified forms of the film applying elements;

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view taken along line li -ll, FIG. 9;

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view taken along line l2-l2, FIG. 10.

Refeiring now to the drawings, wherein like references are usedthroughout to designate like elements, the preferred and illustrativeembodiment of the invention depicted therein comprises a support frameill for a flexible contact type half-tone screen 12 with the frame beingmounted in front of the vacuum film support represented as 14- and withboth the screen support frame and film support being disposed in andforming part of a photomechanical camera. Film support 14 and frame ltlare relatively movable away from and toward each other along the opticalaxis of the camera and while this relative movement may be had bymounting either the support frame it or vacuum back 14 so that either orboth may be axially moved within the camera, in the embodiment hereinillustrated and described the vacuum back or film support is movabletoward and away from the screen frame while this frame remainsstationary. Support frame it) includes the upright side members 15between the upper end of which extend cross members 16 and 31% andbetween the lower end of which extend the cross members 2i) and 22.

The flexible contact type half-tone screen 12. is loosely hung withinframe lit with the upper end of the screen being supported from crossmember l3 while the lower end is loosely held against cross member 26.The screen is attached to these cross members by means of the screwmembers 24 which are provided with a shouldered cylindrical portion 26that extends from the face of the cross member and maintains the head 28of the screw in spaced relation with this face. These screw members aresecured to the cross members by nut 30 that is threaded upon shank 32and there are a number of these screw members spaced along the crossmembers 155 and 2h. The cylindrical portion 26 of each of these screwmembers is received Within a suitable opening 34- in the screen withthese openings being enlarged relative to this cylindrical portion.Since cylindrical portion 26 has an axial dimension that issubstantially greater than the thickness of the screen and sinceopenings 34 are enlarged with respect to this cylindrical portion 2a ofmembers 24 the screen may move a limited distance both vertically and lhorizontally with relation to the cross members 13 and 2t? and is onlyloosely hung within the support frame so that it may be applied to theface of film support and over a sheet of film 36 that is held againstthe face of the film support.

When the screen support frame l9 is in spaced relation with or spacedaway from film support 14 the film sheet is placed over the face of thefilm support and is held in place by suction which is applied throughopenings 33 in the film support, with these openings being distributedthroughout the area of the face of the support and with the suctionbeing applied through a suitable manifold that forms a part of the filmsupport and that is connected to a suction or vacuum source. The detailsof the film support by which suction is applied to the opening." do notform a part of this invention and are ac cordin ly not illustrated.After thus positioning the film against the face of film support thefilm support is moved from its spaced position with relation to screensupport frame lltl into juxtaposition with this support frame as shownin FIGURE 1 and as represented in solid lines in FIGURE 6. Flexiblehalf-tone screen I2 is then applied to the face of the film support andover film sheet with this screen being applied to the film support andfilm from the upper region of the screen progressively downward and withthe screen extending beyond the edges of the film so that the screen isprogressively sucked into firm contact wit the film support and the filmvia suction through the openings that are laterally disposed about thefilm and are covered by the screen. The air between the film sheet andthe screen as well as betwen the screen and the face of the film supportis drawn or evacuated through these openings so that the screen lies infirm, intimate contact with the film and the film support for exposureof the film.

The half-tone screen is applied to the film and the film support througha roller assembly 4% which is carried by frame Ill) and is verticallymovable within the frame. This roller assembly includes spacing roller42 which is carried by and extends between the angle support brackets 44and which is parallel with the face of lm support 14. Each of thesebrackets has secured to it a pair of vertically spaced bearing blocks 46that have a T-shaped cross section, the shank of which is slidablyreceived in slot 43 provided in the inwardly facing surface of each ofthe side members 15. Pivotally carried by the reduced end portions 54)of spacing roller 42 are the pair of spaced arms 52, with smoothingroller 54 extending between and being journaled within the upper ends ofthese arms, with this support for roller 54 being such that the rollerwill adjust or align itself for parallel relation with the face of thefilm support. As shown in FIGURE 1, smoothing or pressure roller 54,which has a rubber surface, moves screen 12 into engagement with filmsheet 36 and the face of film support 14 while spaced roller 42.maintains the portion of the screen immediately below roller 54- inspaced relation with film sheet 36 and the face of the film support.Smoothing roller 54 is urged toward film support 14 by means ofcompression springs 55 which are interposed between a lug 56 on thebrackets 44 and the pivotal arms 52. As a result of the bias provided bythese springs, roller 54 is effective to apply screen 12 to film sheet36 and the face of the vacuum film support with a predetermined pressurewhich assures a smooth overlay of the screen on the film and the filmsupport, with the roller, through this bias, being self-aligning withrelation to the face of the film support so that assurance is had thatthe screen is forced into engagement with the film sheet by roller 54across the entire Width of the film sheet.

Vertical movement of the roller assembly 4ft within support frame id isprovided through a motor actuated drive mechanism that is automaticallyoperated in response to movement of the vacuum film support from itsspaced relation with the screen support frame into and J fromjuxtaposition with this frame. This drive organization for the rollerassembly includes the pair of chains or similar endless members 58mounted in each side of support frame and trained over an upper gear 68,mounted on laterally extending rod or shaft 62, and lower gear 64secured to shaft 66. Also secured to shaft 66 is gear 68 which mesheswith gear 70 that is mounted on the shaft of electric motor 72. Each ofthe angle support brackets 44 includes a support arm 74 which is inparallel relation with the two vertically extending runs of the adjacentchain 58 and has its lower surface curved as shown and in engagementwith laterally extending pin 76. This pin forms a part of carrier link78 and there is one such link in each of the chains 58, with these linksbeing in a common horizontal plane at all times.

With this organization it is not necessary to have a reversible drive inorder to move roller assembly up and down within support frame 18, butmotor 72 need only by unidirectional and by driving the pair of chains58 in the same direction the roller assembly will be moved up and downwithin the support frame with pins 76 merely moving from one end to theother of support arms 74 when the arm reaches the upper extremity ofchains 58 and with arms 74 resting upon shaft 66 when links 78 reachgears 64 and pass around the periphery of these gears.

In order that roller assembly 40 will be automatically operated inresponse to movement of the film support 14 to and from juxtapositionwith screen support frame 11),

a suitable control circuit for motor '72 is provided. This circuitincludes conductors 80 and 82 that are connected between a suitablesource of potential. Conductor 82 is connected directly with oneterminal of motor 72 while the other terminal of the motor, i.e.terminal 84, is connected with conductor 80 through parallel circuits 86and 88. Within circuit 88 is limit switch 90 biased to the closedposition, and within circuit 86 is a similar limit switch 92 with theswitches preferably being microswitches. These switches are actuated bythe adjustable actuator 94 threadedly received in the bent-over ear 96formed on bracket 44. The double throw switch 98 controls the connectionof the parallel circuits 86 and 88 with conductor 80. This double throwswitch is biased into engagement with contact 188 and is moved intoengagement with contact 102 by finger 104 on film support 14 when thefilm support is moved from its position in spaced relation with frame10, which portion is shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 6, into adjacentrelation or juxtaposition with this frame and accordingly screen 12,with this latter portion being shown in solid lines in FIG- URE 6. Inorder to facilitate assembly and disassembly a four-pronged plug andsocket 106 is employed in the control circuit.

When film support 14 is in its spaced position from screen frame 10(dotted line position shown in FIGURE 6) roller assembly 40 is in itsuppermost portion where actuator 94 opens switch 92. Upon moving thefilm support from this spaced relation, after suction is applied to thefilm support and a film sheet has been positioned over the face thereof,finger 184 moves switch 98 into engagement with contact 102 when thefilm support is adjacent the screen frame (solid line position in FIGURE6) and the film sheet lies in the focal plane of the camera. Thisenergizes motor 72 through circuit 88 and causes the drive organizationto move roller assembly 40 vertically downward in frame 10 from itsupper to its lowermost position. Upon moving the film support adjacentthe screen frame assembly 10, roller 54 is effective to urge the screeninto engagement with the film sheet and as the roller assembly is moveddownward in frame 10 it is effective through the medium of smoothing orpressure roller 54 and spacing roller 42 to suecessively and smoothlyapply the flexible screen over the film and the face of the film supportfrom their upper region downwardly so that the contact, half-tone screenproperly overlays the film for exposure of the film. When the rollerassembly reaches its lower limit of movement, actuator 94 opens switchwith relation to circuit 88 and moves this switch into engagement withcontact 108 so that light 110 is lit indicating that the half-tonescreen is in position for exposure of the film. Upon switch 98 openingcircuit 88, motor 72 is deactivated and the drive is accordinglydeactivated. The various elements remain in these relative positionsuntil film support 14 is moved away from the screen and screen framewith manipulation of the film support being either manual or through anydesired motor drive mechanism. Immediately prior to this movement,vacuum is released from the vacuum film support so that the screen andfilm are no longer held by suction against the face of this support.Then upon moving film support 14 away from screen support frame 1!)switch 98 is moved from engagement with contact 102 into engagement withcontact 1118 thereby energizing motor 72 through circuit 86. This causesroller assembly 40 to move upward with actuator 92 moving out of contactwith switch 91) so that this switch closes with relation to circuit 88and moves away from contact 188 under the influence of a suitable biasso that pilot light 111) goes out. Roller assembly 40 is then moved toits uppermost position with actuator 94 contacting and opening normallyclosed switch 92 thereby de-energizing motor 72, with the controlorganization then being ready for another cycle of operation.

It will thus be seen that with the present invention by moving the filmsupport and the screen support frame from spaced relation into adjacentrelation the roller assembly is automatically actuated to smoothly applythe flexible half-tone screen over the film sheet retained against thevacuum film support from the upper region of the screen progressivelydownward with a pilot light indicating when the screen is fully appliedor overlying the film and with the roller assembly being stopped uponreaching the lower end of its movement; while upon moving the filmsupport and screen support frame from adjacent each other into spacedrelation the roller assembly is moved from its lowermost to itsuppermost position where it is again ready to smoothly apply thehalf-tone screen over the film sheet and the face of the film support.

In certain atmospheric conditions and with certain types of film, suchas, the paper-backed films, film sheet 35 has a tendency to bend orbuckle such that the side edges thereof are out of contact with vacuumfilm support 14. (See FIG. 8.) When this occurs, it will be understoodthat the operation of the roller assembly 40 is adversely effected. Tocorrect this situation, means is provided for urging a buckled filmsheet 36 into overall contact with film support 14 in advance of travelof roller assembly 40 therepast. This means includes a plow element 112having a pair of joined angularly-related coplanar sections 114 and 116.Sections 114 and 116 are joined at an apex 118 located in spacedrelation below roller 42 as shown in FIG. 7. End 115 of section 114 andthe corresponding end 117 of section 116 are secured at their respectivesides of roller assembly 48 to the arm 52 located thereat. Ends 115 and117 are each mounted to its respective arm 52 by means of a pin 120.Each end 115, 117 is loosely mounted on its associate pin 120. However,plow element 112 is urged toward film sheet 36 by means of suitablesprings 122 mounted on pins 120 between the ends 115, 117 of plowelement 112 and arm 52. The bias provided by springs 122 ensures apreselected resilient pressure for smoothly applying sheet 36 to support12 and further provides a degree of self-alignment with relation to theface of support 12 to assure complete overall engagement of the filmsheet 36 and its vacuum support 12.

In operation, as roller assembly 40 moves downwardly to apply flexiblehalf-tone screen 12 to film sheet 36 in 17 response to the actuation ofswitch 98, plow element 112, biased toward film sheet 36 and disposed inadvance of roller assembly 40, initially contacts film sheet 36, urgingit into over-all engagement with its vacuum film support 14. beforeapplication of screen 12 to sheet 36, to insure a properly disposed film36 and screen 12 in exposure position on support 14. Upon movement offilm support 14- away from the screen support frame 1d, roller assemblyand plow element 112 are returned to their uppermost position to awaitthe next cycle of operation.

In the modification of the plow element 112 shown in FIG. 9, the apex118 comprises an extension including an additional pair of intersectingsections 124 and 126 which are extensions of legs 114 and 116respectively. However, sections 124 and 126 are more acutely angularlyrelated than legs 114 and 115. In addition, as shown best in FIG. 11,sections 124 and 126 are bent out of the vertical plane containingsections 114 and 116. Sections 124 and 126 are in a vertical plane atangle to the plane of sections 114 and 116 away from film support 12.This outward bend of the apex section has been found beneficial ininitially engaging the buckle film sheet 36 and urging into the zone ofoperation of legs 114- and 116 of the plow element 112 for properapplication of the film sheet 3% to its vacuum support 12.

FIGURE 10 discloses another modification of plow element 112. In thisembodiment, plow element 112 includes an upper bracket 128 attached toplow 112 at apex 113. Bracket 128 includes a pair of angularlyrelatedside sections 136 and 132 meeting at a peak 134.

However, side sections 130 and 132 are bent outwardly out of thevertical plane of plow 112 away from film sup port 12 to urge a buckledsheet 36 into the range of operation of legs 114 and 116 for properapplication of the film sheet 36 to its vacuum support 12.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificmechanism shown and described but departures may be made therefrom,within the scope of the accompanying claims, without departing from theprinciples of the invention and without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

What is claimed is:

l. In a photomechanical camera, having a vacuum film support, ahalf-tone screen applying device including a frame, a flexible contacttype half-tone screen supported by the frame, a screen-applying element,means mounting said element in said frame for movement over the face ofsaid film support to smoothly apply said half-tone screen to a filmsheet on said support and means operatively associated with said screenapplying element and movable therewith to urge said film sheet intoover-all contact with said support in advance of the application of saidhalf-tone screen thereto by said applying element.

2. In a photomechanical camera having a verticallydisposed vacuum filmsupport, a flexible screen applying assembly comprising a frame, aflexible contact-type screen supported by said frame, a roller assembly,means mounting said roller assembly in said frame for vertical movementover the face of said support to smoothly applow element supported bysaid roller assembly and verply said screen to a film sheet on saidsupport and a ticaily movably therewith to urge said film sheet intoover-all engagement with its support in advance of the application ofsaid screen thereto by said roller assembly.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said plow elementincludes a pair of angularly related interconnected arms, means mountingsaid arms on said roller assembly for disposition between said filmsupport and said flexible screen.

4. In a photomechanical camera having a vacuum film support, a half-tonescreen applying assembly having a flexible, contact-type, half-tonescreen mounted therein and including a pair of elongated membersextending transversely of said screen, means movably mounting saidmembers for simultaneous transverse movement in a direction parallelwith the face of the support to apply said screen to a film sheet onsaid support said flexible screen being trained over said elongatedmembers and said members being disposed so that one of said membersurges the screen into engagement with said film sheet on said supportwhile the other member retains the screen portion at one side of saidscreen urging member in spaced relation with said film support, plowmeans mounted on member mounting means and disposed transversely of saidfilm support in said space between said screen and film support andmeans for simultaneously moving said members and said plow means acrossthe film supporting face to said vacuum support in a direction toprogressively urge said film sheet into over-all contact with said filmsupport and to progressively apply said screen to said film sheet onsaid film support.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said plow means includesa pair of angularly-related arms joined at an apex located adjacent themiddle of said elongated members in spaced relation therewith in thedirection of movement of said members whereby said arms engage and urgesaid film sheet into engagement with said support in advance of theapplication of said screen thereto.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein the portion of said armsadjacent said apex are bent into a. plane angularly inclined to theplane including the remainder of the arms and away from said filmsupport whereby said bent apex portion facilitates application of saidfilm to said support.

7. The invention as defined in claim 5 including a plow element meansmounting said plow element to the apex of said arms with a portionthereof extending beyond said apex, means forming said extended portionof said plow element in a plane inclined at an angle to the planeincluding said arms and away from said film support whereby said plowelement facilitates application of said film to said support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N00 3,, l5l 522Qctober 6 1964 Norman C, Schutt et al a rtified that error appears inthe above numbered patetters Patent should read as It is hereby ce tionand that the said L ent requiring correc corrected below.

Column 8, lines 1 and 2 strike out "plow element supported by saidroller assembly and verply said screen to a film sheet on said supportand a" and insert instead ply said screen to a film sheet on saidsupport and a plow element supported by said roller assembly and verforcolumn 8 "face to" read face of d sealed this 30th day of March 1965.,

Signed an (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents ERNEST W. SWIDER AttestingOfficer UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PatentNo,, 3 l5l 522 October 6 1964 Norman C, Schutt et aln It is herebycertified that error appears in the above numbered pat ent req'liringcorrection and that the said Letters Patent should read as correctedbelow Column 8 lines 1 and 2 strike out "plow element supported by saidroller assembly and verply said screen to a film sheet on said supportand a" and insert instead ply said screen to a film sheet on saidsupport and a plow element supported by said roller assembly andvercolumn 8 line 29 for "face to" read face of Signed and sealed this30th day of March 1965.,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. IN A PHOTOMECHANICAL CAMERA, HAVING A VACUUM FILM SUPPORT, AHALF-TONE SCREEN APPLYING DEVICE INCLUDING A FRAME, A FLEXIBLE CONTACTTYPE HALF-TONE SCREEN SUPPORTED BY THE FRAM, A SCREEN-APPLYING ELEMENT,MEANS MOUNTING SAID ELEMENT IN SAID FRAME FOR MOVEMENT OVER THE FACE OFSAID FILM SUPPORT TO SMOOTHLY APPLY SAID HALF-TONE SCREEN TO A FILMSHEET ON SAID SUPPORT AND MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID SCREENAPPLYING ELEMENT AND MOVABLE THEREWITH TO URGE SAID FILM SHEET INTOOVER-ALL CONTACT WITH SAID SUPPORT IN ADVANCE OF THE APPLICATION OF SAIDHALF-TONE SCREEN THERETO BY SAID APPLYING ELEMENT.